Smartcard cleaning and sorting systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Various arrangements are presented for cleaning and sorting smartcards. An identifier present on the exterior of the smartcard may be scanned. A smartcard may be dispensed from an intake magazine that housing a plurality of smartcards. The smartcard may be moved along a cleaning assembly. The contacts of the smartcard may be cleaned. The contacts of the smartcard may be dried. After cleaning and drying the contacts of the smartcard, the smartcard may be sorted into either a cleaned output magazine or a cleaned rejection tray based on whether the scanning of the identifier was successfully performed.

BACKGROUND

Smartcards can provide a high level of security and are used in variousways, including managing decryption at television receivers. When acustomer returns a television receiver to a service provider, thetelevision receiver and/or the smartcard may be serviced and distributedto another customer. As part of the servicing of the televisionreceiver, a smartcard present in the television receiver may be servicedto ensure proper functionality. This smartcard may be reused in the sameor a different television receiver.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments are described related to a smartcard cleaning andsorting apparatus. In some embodiments, a device for a smartcardcleaning and sorting apparatus is described. The device may include ahousing. The device may include an uncleaned intake magazine for housinga plurality of smartcards that dispenses each smartcard of a pluralityof smartcards individually. The device may include the uncleaned intakemagazine coupled with the housing. Each smartcard may comprise: aplurality of external metallic contacts in communication with anon-board integrated circuit and a machine-readable identifier. Thedevice may include an identifier scanner attached with the housing thatattempts to read a machine-readable identifier of each smartcard of theplurality of smartcards after each smartcard has been dispensed from theuncleaned intake magazine. The device may include a cleaning assembly,coupled with the housing, comprising a plurality of brushes and aplurality of liquid sprayers that cleans a plurality of externalmetallic contacts of each smartcard regardless of whether the identifierscanner successfully read the machine-readable identifier of thesmartcard. The device may include a sorting assembly, coupled with thehousing, that receives the plurality of smartcards following eachsmartcard of the plurality of smartcards passing through the cleaningassembly and sorts each smartcard of the plurality of smartcards basedon whether the identifier scanner successfully read the machine-readableidentifier of the smartcard. The device may include a cleaned outputmagazine, coupled with the housing, that receives and stores at least asubset of the plurality of smartcards received from the sortingassembly. Each smartcard of the at least the subset of the plurality ofsmartcards may have the machine-readable identifier of the smartcardsuccessfully scanned by the identifier scanner prior to passing throughthe cleaning assembly.

Embodiments of such a device may include one or more of the followingfeatures: a roller assembly comprising a plurality of rollers. A firstsubset of a plurality of rollers may contact a first side of smartcardspassing through the cleaning assembly and a second subset of theplurality of rollers contact a second side of a smartcards passingthrough the cleaning assembly. The device may include a drive system.The drive system may cause at least some of the plurality of rollers toturn to advance the plurality of smartcards through the cleaningassembly. The drive system may include a roller chain that mechanicallyconnects the at least some of the plurality of rollers with a driveassembly. The roller assembly may include a plurality of tensioningsprings. Each tensioning spring of the plurality of tensioning springsmay have an adjustable tension controlling pressure of a roller of theplurality of rollers on the plurality of smartcards as each smartcardpasses through the cleaning assembly. The plurality of liquid sprays mayspray alcohol on one or more brushes of the plurality of brushes. Theidentifier scanner may be an optical scanner that attempts to read abarcode from each smartcard of the plurality of smartcards. The devicemay include a computerized user interface device in communication withthe identifier scanner. The device may output indications of themachine-readable identifiers successfully scanned by the identifierscanner. The device may include a cleaned reject tray, coupled with thehousing, that receives and stores at least a second subset of theplurality of smartcards received from the sorting assembly. Eachsmartcard of the at least the second subset of the plurality ofsmartcards may have the machine-readable identifier of the smartcardunsuccessfully scanned by the identifier scanner prior to passingthrough the cleaning assembly. The housing may include a housing lockand the smartcard cleaning and sorting apparatus only cleans and sortsthe plurality of smartcards when the housing is closed and locked.

In some embodiments, a method for cleaning and sorting smartcards isdescribed. The method may include scanning an identifier present on anexterior of the smartcard. The identifier may be a machine-readable codeand scanning may be performed prior to cleaning contacts of thesmartcard. The method may include dispensing a smartcard from an intakemagazine that housing a plurality of smartcards. The method may include,after scanning the identifier and dispensing the smartcard, moving thesmartcard along a cleaning assembly. The method may include cleaning thecontacts of the smartcard by a cleaning assembly. The method may includedrying a contacts of the smartcard. The method may include, aftercleaning and drying the contacts of the smartcard, sorting the smartcardinto either a cleaned output magazine or a cleaned rejection tray basedon whether the scanning of the identifier was successfully performedprior to moving the smartcard along the cleaning assembly.

Embodiments of such a method may include one or more of the followingfeatures: altering a position of the cleaned output magazine based onthe smartcard being successfully scanned. A distance that the positionof the cleaned output magazine is altered may be based on the identifierof the smartcard. Cleaning the contact of the smartcard may comprisebrushing both sides of the smartcard by a smartcard processingapparatus. Moving the smartcard along the cleaning assembly may beperformed by a roller assembly that is driven by a drive motor. Theroller assembly comprises a plurality of tension springs that may causerollers of the roller assembly to exert force on the smartcard. Themethod may include dispensing a second smartcard from the intakemagazine that houses a plurality of smartcards in response to thesmartcard being sensed by a card sensor of a smartcard processingapparatus. Scanning the identifier may comprise scanning a barcode ofthe smartcard using an optical scanner.

In some embodiments, a device for a smartcard cleaning and sortingapparatus is described. The device may include an intake means forhousing a plurality of smartcards that dispenses each smartcard of theplurality of smartcards individually. The device may include anidentifier scanning means that attempts to read a machine-readableidentifier of each smartcard of the plurality of smartcards after eachsmartcard has been dispensed from the intake means. The device mayinclude a cleaning means, comprising a plurality of brushes that cleanseach smartcard regardless of whether the identifier scanning meanssuccessfully read a machine-readable identifier of the smartcard. Thedevice may include a sorting means that receives the plurality ofsmartcards following each smartcard of the plurality of smartcardspassing through the cleaning means and sorts each smartcard of theplurality of smartcards based on whether the identifier scanning meanssuccessfully read the machine-readable identifier of the smartcard. Thedevice may include an output means that receives and stores at least asubset of the plurality of smartcards received from the sorting means.Each smartcard of the at least the subset of the plurality of smartcardsmay have a machine-readable identifier of the smartcard successfullyscanned by the identifier scanning means prior to passing through thecleaning means. The device may include a conveyor means that causes thesmartcard to pass from the identifier scanning means, through thecleaning means, to the sorting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a block diagram of a smartcardcleaning and sorting system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment of a smartcardcleaning and sorting system.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of an embodiment of a smartcard cleaningand sorting system.

FIG. 4 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment of an intake magazinewith an identifier scanner.

FIG. 5 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment of an identifierscanner.

FIG. 6 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment of brushes positionedalong a roller assembly of a smartcard cleaning and sorting system.

FIG. 7 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment of brushes, rollers,and tensioning screws positioned along a roller assembly.

FIG. 8 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment of a roller assemblywith an integrated sorting system.

FIG. 9 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment of a lift trap.

FIG. 10 illustrates an top view of an embodiment of a roller assemblywith an integrated cleaning assembly.

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a roller assemblywith integrated card dryers.

FIG. 12 illustrates an end view of an embodiment of a smartcard cleaningand sorting system.

FIG. 13 illustrates an end view of an embodiment of a smartcard cleaningand sorting system.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method for cleaning and sorting smartcards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In certain circumstances, a large number of smartcards may need to becleaned and, possibly, sorted. As an example, various types oftelevision receivers, which include set top boxes (STBs), may haveremovable smartcards that are used to perform decryption of data packetsreceived via a television programming distribution network. A televisionservice provider may transmit, such as wirelessly via satellite,television programming that uses encrypted keys, referred to asentitlement control messages (ECMs), in order to obtain control words(CWs), which are, in turn, used for descrambling audio and video contentof television programming. A smartcard installed within the televisionreceiver may decrypt the ECMs to obtain CWs. By isolating decryption ofthe ECMs in the smartcard, the service provider may be able to tightlycontrol security around who has access to the decryption algorithm anddecrypted ECMs.

When a television receiver is returned to a service provider, such asafter a subscriber has ended his subscription or upgraded to a newtelevision receiver, the smartcard present within the televisionreceiver may still be viable for redeployment in the same or anothertelevision receiver to perform decryption duties. Rather than discardingor destroying the smartcard, the smartcard may be cleaned to ensure itis in a condition suitable for redeployment.

A smartcard cleaning and sorting apparatus (referred to as a “smartcardprocessing apparatus” for short), may read an identifier in the form ofa machine-readable code from an exterior of the smartcard, such as abarcode. This barcode may be scanned to determine the identifier of thesmartcard. Regardless of whether the barcode is successfully read ornot, the smartcard may proceed through a cleaning apparatus. Thecleaning apparatus may spray one or more brushes and/or the smartcardswith a liquid, such as alcohol, and brush the contacts of the smartcard(and, possibly, at least a portion of the remainder of the top andbottom sides of the smartcard). In some embodiments, a top brush and abottom brush is sprayed with alcohol. The top brush then brushes a topof a smartcard and the bottom brush then brushes a bottom of thesmartcard. The smartcards may then be dried via blowing air. Eachsmartcard may then be sorted based on the previous scanning of theidentifier.

If the identifier was successfully read, the smartcard may be sortedinto a cleaned output magazine. Each smartcard loaded into this magazinemay have its identifier recorded to a database or other storagearrangement of the smartcard processing apparatus. If the identifier wasnot successfully read, such as due to dirt or damage to the smartcard,the smartcard may still be cleaned, but may be loaded into a separatereject tray or magazine. This reject tray or magazine stores smartcardsthat were cleaned but not successfully scanned. Each of these smartcardmay be reprocessed, scanned manually, or discarded.

While the above description outlines how the smartcard processingapparatus may be used in relation to a television service provider'ssystem, it should be understood that smartcards that are put to otheruses may also benefit from such a cleaning and sorting arrangement. Forexample, smartcards may be used for conducting financial transactions.Such smartcards may benefit from being cleaned and, possibly, sorted incertain situations. Other uses are also possible, such as for cleaningtransaction cards (e.g., financial transaction cards) that have amagnetic stripe (in addition to or in alternate to a chip).

Further detail regarding the smartcard processing apparatus is providedin relation to the figures. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a blockdiagram of smartcard cleaning and sorting system 100. The smartcardprocessing apparatus may include: cleaning assembly 110, intake magazine120, identifier scanner 125, roller assemblies 130, drive motor 135,electronic control and user interface 140, sorting system 145, outputmagazine 150, rejection tray 155, and card sensors 160. The smartcardprocessing apparatus may include a housing which serves as the structurefor the apparatus upon which various components are either permanentlyor removably attached. Housing 101 may be a metal frame or some otherrigid material. All components of system 100 may be removably orpermanently attached with housing 101.

Smartcards that are yet to be processed may be loaded into intakemagazine 120. Intake magazine 120 may be configured and sized in orderto receive a significant number of smartcards, such as 250. In otherembodiments, intake magazine 120 may accommodate between, for example, 5and 5,000 smartcards. The smartcards loaded into intake magazine 120 maybe of varying thicknesses. Therefore, each smartcard within intakemagazine 120 may not be the same thickness. Intake magazine 120 may beremovably attached with housing 101. Therefore, in order to easeinsertion of the smartcards into intake magazine 120, intake magazine120 may be detached from housing 101. Intake magazine 120 may dispensesmartcards one at a time to be read by identifier scanner 125.

As each smartcard is dispensed from intake magazine 120, identifierscanner 125 may attempt to scan an identifier present on an exterior ofthe smartcard. Identifier scanner 125 may be an optical scanner and mayread barcodes. Therefore, present on each smartcard may be a barcodethat identifier scanner 125 attempts to read. Rather than a barcode,other forms of machine-readable identifiers may be used, such as an RFIDtag, alphanumeric code, color-coded symbol, QR-code, etc. The type ofidentifier scanner 125 selected can be based on the type ofmachine-readable code to be read. If identifier scanner 125 successfullyreads the identifier present on the smartcard, the identifier read maybe transmitted to electronic control and user interface 140 for loggingand storage. If the identifier is not successfully read, an indicationthat the identifier was not read may be transmitted to electroniccontrol and user interface 140. Regardless of whether the identifier wasproperly read, the smartcard may be passed into roller assemblies 130.

Roller assemblies 130 (130-1 and 130-2), may use a series of rollers toadvance each smartcard along a defined path. Roller assembly 130-1 maybe a series of rollers beneath which each smartcard passes. Rollerassembly 130-2 may be a series of rollers upon which each smartcardrests. The rollers of roller assemblies 130-2 may be connected withdrive motor 135. Drive motor 135, when engaged, may cause rollers ofroller assembly 130-2 to rotate and advance each smartcard from intakemagazine 120 towards sorting system 145. Drive motor 135 may beconnected with some or all of the rollers of roller assembly 130-2 via adrive chain or drive belt. Downward pressure may be applied by therollers of roller assembly 130-1 such that sufficient friction ispresent between the rollers of roller assembly 130-2 and each smartcardto allow the smartcard to advance when the rollers of roller assembly130-2 are turned by drive motor 135. The amount of pressure may be setusing tensioning springs incorporated as part of the roller assembly. Insome embodiments, rather than using roller assemblies, a conveyor beltmay be used to move each smartcard individually.

While each smartcard is passing through roller assemblies 130, cleaningassembly 110 may clean each smartcard. Cleaning assembly 110 mayinclude: spray assembly 111, brush motor 112, brushes 113, air knives114, and card dryer 115. Spray assembly 111 may spray a liquid, such asisopropyl alcohol, on one or more brushes, the contacts of the smartcardand/or, possibly, both sides of the smartcard generally. Spray assembly111 may include one or more sprayers (which may spray the side of thesmartcard having electrical contacts or both sides of the smartcard),tubing, a liquid supply 170 (e.g., a pressurized or non-pressurizedcontainer), and a liquid pump, which may be controlled by electroniccontrol and user interface 140. Excess sprayed liquid that drips fromthe brushes, smartcard, and/or other components may be routed to arecapture container, indicated by liquid recovery 171. Brushes 113 maybe located among rollers of roller assembly 130-1 and roller assembly130-2 in order to brush the contacts of the smartcard and the top andbottom surfaces of the smartcard generally. Brushes 113 may include oneor more brushes arranged among rollers of roller assembly 130-1 and oneor more brushes arranged among rollers of roller assembly 130-2.Therefore, one or more brushes arranged among each of roller assemblies130-1 and 130-2 may be sprayed with alcohol and used to brush bothsurfaces of the smartcard. Brushes 113 may be rotated by a brush motor112 distinct from drive motor 135. In other embodiments, a single motormay be used to drive one or more of the roller assemblies 130 andbrushes 113. Air knives 114 may be positioned in relation to rollers ofroller assembly 130-1 and roller assembly 130-2 in order to blow andevaporate excess liquid off of rollers of roller assemblies 130. Byusing air knives to remove liquid from the rollers, the possibility ofslippage of a smartcard along roller assemblies 130 may be decreased.Card dryer 115 may include one or more air blowers that blow air at thetop and bottom of each smartcard as the smartcard passes along rollerassemblies 130 prior to reaching sorting system 145. When each smartcardreaches sorting system 145, each smartcard should be nearly or fullydried to prevent any sticking together of smartcards in rejection tray155 or output magazine 150. In other embodiments, only some of thecleaning assembly components may be present. For example, someembodiments may not include brushes 113 or brush motor 112. In otherembodiments, spray assembly 111 may not be present.

Card sensors 160 (160-1, 160-2), detect movement of each smartcard alongroller assemblies 130. A next smartcard may be dispensed by intakemagazine 120 in response to card sensor 160-1 detecting that apreviously-dispensed smartcard has advanced to a certain point alongroller assemblies 130. That is, card sensor 160-1 may provide anindication that a card has reached a particular location to electroniccontrol and user interface 140 which may, in response, cause the nextsmartcard to be dispensed from intake magazine 120 (e.g., via pusherplate 411 detailed in relation to FIG. 4). Card sensor 160-1 may bepositioned to detect when a smartcard reaches a particular locationalong roller assemblies 130. Card sensor 160-1 may emit a laser or otherform of light beam in order to detect when a card has passed a certainpoint along roller assemblies 130-1. Similarly card sensor 160-2 maymonitor for the smartcard passing a second point along roller assemblies130 and may be used as a trigger for sorting system 145.

Sorting system 145 receives each smartcard from roller assemblies 130individually. Sorting system 145, based upon the speed at which drivemotor 135 causes smartcards to advance along roller assemblies 130, mayreceive each smartcard a roughly fixed amount of time after thesmartcard is sensed by card sensor 160-2. Electronic control and userinterface 140 may trigger sorting system 145 to move the cleanedsmartcard to either output magazine 150 or rejection tray 155. Sortingsystem 145 may direct smartcards that were successfully scanned byidentifier scanner 125 to output magazine 150 and may direct smartcardsthat were not successfully scanned by identifier scanner 125 torejection tray 155. In some embodiments, sorting system 145 may includean air-actuated lift trap, such that the lift trap is raised to allowrejected smartcards to fall into the rejection tray. Sorting system 145may be triggered to direct the smartcard to the appropriate destinationbased on the smartcard being sensed by card sensor 160-2.

Output magazine 150 may receive each cleaned and successfully scannedsmartcard from sorting system 145. Each received smartcard may be loadedonto a top of a stack of cleaned and successfully scanned smartcardswithin output magazine 150. The vertical position of output magazine 150may be adjusted down as each cleaned smartcard is added to outputmagazine 150 such that each successively cleaned smartcard that wassuccessfully scanned is added to a top of a stack of smartcards withinoutput magazine 150. Based on the identifier successfully read byidentifier scanner 125, electronic control and user interface 140 candetermine a thickness of the smartcard. For example, all smartcardshaving an identifier within a particular numerical range may be of adefined thickness. Alternatively, a database lookup of the readidentifier may be performed. Electronic control and user interface 140may then cause output magazine 150 to adjust its vertical position bythe appropriate thickness to accommodate the smartcard being received.For example, smartcards may vary between 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm in thickness.In other embodiments, the thickness variation may be greater or smaller.Output magazine 150 may include a servo motor or other form of motorthat can vertically adjust the position of output magazine 150. Outputmagazine 150 may be removably attached with housing 101. When processingis complete or stopped, output magazine may be detached from housing 101with the cleaned and successfully read smartcards. Rejection tray 155may receive smartcards that were cleaned but were not successfullyscanned by identifier scanner 125.

Electronic control and user interface 140 may receive user input via auser input device and output information to a user via a display device.A computer system may function as electronic control and user interface140. Electronic control and user interface 140 may allow a user tointeract with system 100, such as to start and stop smartcardprocessing. Further, a user may be able to view identifiers ofsmartcards successfully scanned by identifier scanner 125. A file ordatabase entries may be created for scanned (and, possibly un-scanned)smartcards that were received though intake magazine 120. Electroniccontrol and user interface 140 may stop system 100 if a problem isdetected. For example, if a smartcard does not pass by a card sensor ofcard sensors 160 (160-1, 160-2) within a predefined period of time froma previous location (e.g., passing by the previous card sensor, leavingintake magazine 120) etc., electronic control and user interface 140 maycause system 100 to stop dispensing cards from intake magazine 120 andmay stop drive motor 135 and/or brush motor 112.

Additional detail regarding various embodiments of such a smartcardprocessing system is provided in relation to FIGS. 2-13. The embodimentsof FIGS. 2-13 can represent embodiments of system 100 of FIG. 1. Variousembodiments of system 100 may only include some of the componentsdetailed in relation to system 100. For example, various embodiments maybe present which do not include sorting system 145, air knives 114,and/or card sensors 160.

FIG. 2 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment of a smartcardcleaning and sorting system 200. System 200 may include the componentsdetailed in relation to system 100 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2,certain components have been removed for simplicity. For instance,liquid supply 170 and liquid recovery 171 are not illustrated in FIG. 2.As part of system 200, FIG. 2 illustrates: housing 205, display 210,intake magazine 215, roller assembly 220, output assembly 225, which mayinclude output magazine 230, output magazine rails 235, and outputmagazine elevator 240.

Housing 205 represents a rigid structure to which various othercomponents of system 200 can be attached or mounted. Housing 205 mayinclude door 206 which can be opened to access componentry of system200. System 200 may only operate if door 206 is in the closed position.Door 206 may frame a rigid material that is transparent, such as acrylicor glass to allow a user to view functionality of components of system200.

Display 210 may be part of electronic control and user interface 140. Auser may view information and provide input to display 210 in order tocontrol system 200. Display 210 may be configured to present dataindicative of the smartcards being scanned in cleaned by system 200.Display 210 may be in communication with a computer system that is partof electronic control and user interface 140 that is not illustrated aspart of FIG. 2.

Intake magazine 215 may be filled with some number of uncleanedsmartcards that are to be cleaned. Such a smartcards may be cleaned oneof the time along roller assembly 220. Roller assembly 220 may besupported by supports of housing 205. Integrated with roller assembly220 may be cleaning assembly 110 that includes some or all cleaningassembly components as detailed in relation to system 100. Uponcompletion of cleaning, if a smartcard has been scanned successfully byan identifier scanner of system 200, the smartcard may be passed tooutput assembly 225. Output assembly 225 may include: output magazine230, output magazine rails 235, and output magazine elevator 240. Outputmagazine 230 may store cleaned and successfully scanned smartcards.Cleaned and successfully scanned smartcards may be added to a top of astack of smartcards in output magazine 230 by output magazine 230 beinglowered along output magazine rails 235. The distance that outputmagazine 230 is lowered along output magazine rails 235 may bedetermined based on a thickness of the smartcard being inserted intooutput magazine 230. The electronic control and user interface may beable to determine a thickness of the smartcard based upon the identifierthat has been successfully read from the smartcard. In some embodiments,rather than adjusting the position of output magazine 230 based upon athickness of the smartcard, the height of output magazine 230 may belowered by a set distance following each smartcard being cleaned orinserted. In other embodiments, output magazine 230 may be positionedsuch that as smartcards are cleaned, the smartcards may fall into outputmagazine 230. Output magazine elevator 240 may adjust the verticalposition of output magazine 230 along output magazine rails 235. Acontrol motor of output magazine elevator 240 may be in communicationwith the electronic control and user interface of system 200.

When output magazine 230 is to be emptied of cleaned and successfullyscanned smartcards, one or more latches, such as latch 245 may bedisengaged such that output magazine 230 may be detached from system200. Output magazine 230 may then be emptied of the cleaned andsuccessfully scanned smartcards. Output magazine 230 may then bere-coupled with system 200 and latched using one or more latches such aslatch 245.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of an embodiment of a smartcard cleaningand sorting system 300. System 300 can represent an embodiment of system100 and/or system 200. In system 300, roller assembly chain drive 305,roller assembly drive gears (such as roller assembly drive gear 310),and roller assembly tensioning screws (such as roller assemblytensioning screw 315) are visible. Roller assembly chain drive 305connects various rollers of the roller assembly with drive motor 320.Drive motor 320 may be controlled using an electronic control and userinterface of system 300. Drive motor 320 may represent drive motor 135of system 100 of FIG. 1. Each roller of the roller assembly may have anassociated gear is mechanically engaged with roller assembly chain drive305. In some embodiments, only rollers that are positioned above asmartcard travel path or below the smartcard travel path may beconnected with roller assembly chain drive 305.

Roller assembly tensioning screws, such as roller assembly tensioningscrew 315, may be screwed into or out of the roller assembly to increaseor decrease, respectively, the amount of tension applied by the toprollers of the roller assembly to smartcards traversing the smartcardtravel path. Rollers of the lower roller assembly (roller assembly130-2) may be in a fixed position while rollers of the upper rollerassembly (roller assembly 130-1) may lift a distance to accommodate asmartcard and apply pressure to the smartcard as the smartcard travelsbeneath such rollers of the upper roller assembly. A roller assemblytensioning screw may be present for each roller of an upper rollerassembly.

FIG. 4 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment 400 of an intakemagazine with an identifier scanner. Embodiment 400 illustrates inintake magazine 405, which may represent intake magazine 120 of system100 or intake magazine 215 of system 200. When some number of smartcardsare present within intake magazine 405, smartcards may be dispensed froma bottom of intake magazine 405 by smartcard insertion assembly 410.

Present in the bottom of intake magazine 405 may be identifier window415. Identifier window 415 may allow an identifier present on anexterior of the lowest smartcard within intake magazine 405 to bevisible through identifier window 415 and read by identifier scanner425. Identifier scanner 425 may be mounted to a bracket that is mountedat an angle to a portion of a housing of the smartcard cleaning andsorting system. Identifier scanner 425 may represent identifier scanner125 of system 100. Identifier scanner may optically scan a code, such asa barcode, through identifier window 415 prior to the smartcard beingpushed by smartcard insertion assembly onto roller assembly 220. Thelowest smartcard in intake magazine 405 is pushed by pusher plate 411 ofsmartcard insertion assembly 410 into roller assembly 220. When pusherplate 411 is retracted, the next lowest smartcard present within intakemagazine 215 may descend and have its identifier visible throughidentifier window 415. Smartcard insertion assembly 410 may include anactuator that, when engaged by an electronic control and user interface,causes pusher plate 411 to slide into intake magazine 405 and eject alowest smartcard.

One or more latches, such as latch 430 may be used to couple anddecouple intake magazine 405 with a smartcard cleaning and sortingsystem. When removed, intake magazine 405 may be filled with a number ofsmartcards to be cleaned and sorted. Intake magazine 405 may then berelaxed to the smartcard cleaning and sorting system.

FIG. 5 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment 500 of an identifierscanner. Embodiment 500 may represent view 420 of embodiment 400.Identifier scanner 425 may be positioned and angled such that it scansan identifier of a lowest smartcard within intake magazine 405.

FIG. 6 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment 600 of brushespositioned along roller assembly 220 of a smartcard cleaning and sortingsystem. Embodiment 600 may represent a portion of smartcard cleaning andsorting system 100 and/or 200. Visible on roller assembly 220 is rollersof an upper roller assembly (e.g., roller assembly 130-1). Roller 605represents a roller of the upper roller assembly. A smartcard may passalong a path beneath roller 605. As such, a top surface of a smartcardmay contact roller 605.

Interspersed with rollers of the upper roller assembly may be one ormore brushes, such as brush 610. Brushes, such as brush 610, may beconnected with a drive motor that causes the brushes to rotatecounterclockwise (or clockwise). Such brushes clean contacts of thesmartcard and, possibly, some or all of the top surface of a smartcardpassing through roller assembly 220. Such brushes may have semi-rigid orflexible bristles that are used to remove debris and grime from a topsurface of smartcard. Brushes may be similarly interspersed with rollersof a lower roller assembly that clean a bottom surface of the smartcard.Such brushes may be connected with a drive motor that causes the brushesto rotate clockwise (or counterclockwise). While the top brushes mayrotate counterclockwise, the bottom brushes may rotate in the oppositedirection, clockwise.

A more detailed view of a portion of embodiment 600 of region 615 ispresented in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 illustrates an angled view of an embodimentof brushes, rollers, and tensioning screws positioned along a rollerassembly. In view 700 of a portion of embodiment 600, two rollers of theupper roller assembly are visible, roller 705 and roller 725. Brush 710is located between rollers 705 and 725. Brush 711 is connected with gear730. Gear 730 may be coupled with a chain (not illustrated in FIG. 7)that is connected with a drive motor to turn brush 711. A similar gearmay be connected with the chain for brush 710 and the remaining brushespresent on the upper assembly. The chain and drive motor for the upperand lower brushes may be distinct from the motor and chain drive used toadvance a smartcard along roller assembly 220.

Visible in view 700 is tensioning screw 715. Tensioning screw 715, whentightened, may compress spring 720, which causes a greater amount offorce to be applied to roller 725. This increases the amount of pressureapplied to a smartcard passing below roller 725. Such pressure mayensure sufficient friction is present between the smartcard and a rollerbeing turned by a drive motor (e.g., drive motor 320) such that thesmartcard advances through roller assembly 220.

FIG. 8 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment of a roller assembly800 with an integrated sorting system. Roller assembly 800 can representroller assembly 220 of FIG. 2. Roller assembly 800 can include sortingsystem 145. In this embodiment, sorting system 145 is in the form oflift trap 805. Lift trap 805 is illustrated in a raised position. Whenin the raised position, smartcards travelling through roller assembly220 may fall under lift trap 805 and into rejection tray 155 locatedbelow roller assembly 220. When in a lowered position, a smartcard maytravel along a smartcard travel path of lift trap 805 and continuetowards an output magazine beneath roller 810. Lift trap 805 may bepivoted upwards and downwards around pivot joint 815.

Further detail regarding lift trap 805 is provided in relation to view820 in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 illustrates an angled view of an embodiment of alift trap. In FIG. 9, lift trap 805 is in the raised position such thata smartcard passing through roller assembly 220 would not pass intosmartcard track 905 of lift trap 805. Rather, the smartcard would fallthrough gap 906 located below smartcard track 905, possibly into arejection tray located below lift trap 805. When lift trap is in alowered position, a smartcard traversing along roller assembly 220 wouldpass into smartcard track 905 and continue towards loading into anoutput magazine.

Lift trap 805 may be actuated between the raised position and a loweredposition by slide guide 920 being slid upwards along track 915. Apneumatic cylinder may be connected with slide guide 920 to actuateslide guide 920 upward using compressed air. The pneumatic cylinder maybe in communication with an electronic control and user interface of thesmartcard cleaning and sorting system, which may provide a signal to thepneumatic cylinder causing it to raise and lower. Slide guide 920 may beconnected with pivot 910. Pivot 910 may allow slide guide 920 to movevertically but hinges with a protrusion from smartcard track 905 toallow smartcard track 905 to be pivoted around pivot joint 815.

FIG. 10 illustrates an top view of an embodiment 1000 of a rollerassembly with an integrated cleaning assembly. Embodiment 1000 canrepresent roller assembly 220 having an integrated cleaning assembly110. Visible in the top view is drive chain 305 and a portion of drivemotor 320. Drive motor 320 drives drive chain 305 to rotate rollers of alower roller assembly (roller assembly 130-2) and/or upper rollerassembly (roller assembly 130-1). In some embodiments, a belt may beused for drive chain 305.

Additionally visible are the two chain assemblies for the upper brushesand lower brushes. Chain 1020 may be connected with brush motor 1005that is used to rotate the brushes (e.g., brush 1021) present on a topof the roller assembly (to clean a top surface of the smartcard and/orsmartcard contacts); chain 1025 may be connected with brush motor 1005that is used to rotate the brushes (e.g., brush 1026) present on abottom of the roller assembly (to clean a bottom surface of thesmartcard and/or smartcard contacts). Brush motor 1005 may representbrush motor 112 of FIG. 1. Brush motor 1005 may be controlled by anelectronic control and user interface of the smartcard cleaning andsorting system. While not illustrated in FIG. 10, spray assembly 111 maybe positioned along roller assembly 220 such that a smartcard traversingthrough roller assembly 220 is sprayed with liquid prior to or whilebeing brushed. Air knives, which emit high-pressure air, may bepositioned to help remove liquid from rollers of roller assembly 220.Such liquid may have been inadvertently transferred to the rollers fromspray assembly 111 (e.g., sprayed on a smartcard and transferred viacontact to a roller). Detailed top view 1030 is presented in FIG. 11 andillustrates a portion of roller assembly 220 through which a smartcardwill pass following being brushed.

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view 1030 of an embodiment of a rollerassembly 220. Visible in top view 1030 are integrated card dryer vents.In FIG. 11, card dryer vents 1105 and 1110 are visible. Card dryer vents1105 and 1110 are part of card dryer 115 of FIG. 1. Air may be expelledthrough card dryer vents 1105 and 1110 to dry a top and/or bottomsurface of a smartcard passing through roller assembly 220. Such air mayexpedite evaporation of liquid used to clean a smartcard and may helpprevent smartcards from sticking together in output magazine 150. Whiletwo card dryer vents are illustrated, it should be understood that thenumber of dryer vents that are positioned to direct air to the top andbottom of a smartcard passing through roller assembly 220 may vary byembodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates an end view of an embodiment 1200 of a smartcardcleaning and sorting system. View 1210 provides a more detailed view ofthe path along with a smartcard travels. FIG. 13 illustrates view 1210of embodiment 1200. Smartcard 1305 may travel through roller assemblies,which may include slot guide 1310 and slot guide 1315. Slot guides 1310and 1315 may provide a guided path for smartcard 1305 to travel along.Slot guides 1310 and 1315 may be notched blocks of a rigid material,such as metal. Rollers 1320 and 1325, of upper and lower rollerassemblies, respectively, may be rotated to cause smartcard 1305 totravel through slot guides 1310 and 1315. Pressure may be applied byroller 1320 to smartcard 1305 to increase friction with roller 1325. Thepressure applied by roller 1320 may be regulated by tension screw 1330and tension screw 1335.

Various methods may be performing using the systems, devices, andapparatuses detailed in relation to FIGS. 1-13. FIG. 14 illustrates amethod 1400 for cleaning and sorting smartcards. Each block of methods1400 may be performed using a smartcard processing system as previouslydescribed.

At block 1410, prior to dispensing or cleaning, a smartcard may have anidentifier present on its surface read. In some embodiments, thisidentifier is a barcode and the barcode is read by an optical barcodescanner while the smartcard is present within an intake magazine. Forinstance, a window on the intake magazine may be present that allows anidentifier of a smartcard that is to be dispensed next to be read. Inother embodiments, the identifier may be in the form of text (e.g., aserial number), a QR code, or RFID chip. The identifier may be read byan identifier scanner that is configured to read the type ofmachine-readable identifier present on smartcard. Regardless of whetherthe identifier scanner successfully reads the identifier from thesmartcard, the smartcard may proceed to block 1420.

At block 1420, a smartcard may be dispensed from an intake magazine. Theintake magazine may have been previously loaded with some number ofsmartcards (e.g., 5, 10, 20, 100, 250) to be cleaned and sorted. Thesesmartcards may have the same thickness or may vary in thickness. Thelength and width of the smartcards may be approximately equal. Eachsmartcard may be dispensed from the intake magazine individually, suchas detailed in relation to FIG. 4.

At block 1430, the smartcard may advance along a roller assembly drivenby a motor. Rollers may exert pressure on the smartcard from the top andbottom and turn, moving the smartcard away from the identifier scannerand intake magazine through a cleaning assembly. In some embodiments,rather than using a roller assembly, a form of conveyor belt or otherarrangement that can move a smartcard along a defined path may be used.

At block 1440, the spray assembly may be used to spray one or morebrushes with liquid (e.g., alcohol, water) then brush the smartcard onits contacts and/or both sides. The cleaning assembly may then dry thesmartcard by blowing air onto the contacts and/or both sides of thesmartcard to remove any liquid remaining on the smartcard. Liquid may beremoved from rollers using one or more air knives. It should beunderstood that in other embodiments, various cleaning arrangementsother than sprayed liquid, brushes, and air drying may be used.

At block 1450, the smartcard may be sorted based on the scanning of thesmartcard's identifier at block 1420. If the identifier was successfullyread, the cleaned smartcard may be sorted to be loaded into an outputmagazine. If the identifier was not successfully read, a sorting systemroutes the cleaned smartcard into a rejection tray. The sorting systemmay move a tray such that the rejected cleaned smartcard drops into therejection tray. The tray may be triggered to move based on a card sensordetecting the presence of the card at a particular location along theroller assembly.

At block 1460, the position of the output magazine may be adjusted basedon the determined thickness of the smartcard. The thickness of thesmartcard may be determined by an electronic control and user interfacebased on the identifier read from the smartcard. The identifier mayspecify the thickness of the smartcard. For example, identifiers thatbegin with a particular digit or sequence of digits may correspond to aparticular thickness. In other embodiments, the electronic control mayhave access to a database that associates individual or ranges ofidentifiers with thicknesses. The output magazine's position may beadjusted to accommodate the successfully read smartcard such that thesmartcard is loaded into the output magazine, such as on top of a stackof other cleaned and successfully read smartcards.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Variousconfigurations may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, in alternative configurations,the methods may be performed in an order different from that described,and/or various stages may be added, omitted, and/or combined. Also,features described with respect to certain configurations may becombined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elementsof the configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Also,technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and donot limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of example configurations (including implementations).However, configurations may be practiced without these specific details.For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, andtechniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoidobscuring the configurations. This description provides exampleconfigurations only, and does not limit the scope, applicability, orconfigurations of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of theconfigurations will provide those skilled in the art with an enablingdescription for implementing described techniques. Various changes maybe made in the function and arrangement of elements without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the disclosure.

Also, configurations may be described as a process which is depicted asa flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe theoperations as a sequential process, many of the operations can beperformed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of theoperations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps orblocks not included in the figure. Furthermore, examples of the methodsmay be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, middleware,microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof.When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, theprogram code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may bestored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as a storagemedium. Processors may perform the described tasks.

Having described several example configurations, various modifications,alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departingfrom the spirit of the disclosure. For example, the above elements maybe components of a larger system, wherein other rules may takeprecedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention.Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after theabove elements are considered.

What is claimed is:
 1. A transaction card cleaning and sortingapparatus, comprising: a housing; an uncleaned intake magazine forhousing a plurality of transaction cards that dispenses each transactioncard of the plurality of transaction cards individually, the uncleanedintake magazine coupled with the housing, wherein each transaction cardcomprises a machine-readable identifier; an identifier scanner attachedwith the housing that attempts to read the machine-readable identifierof each transaction card of the plurality of transaction cards; acleaning assembly, coupled with the housing, that cleans eachtransaction card of the plurality of transaction cards; a sortingassembly, coupled with the housing, that receives the plurality oftransaction cards following each transaction card of the plurality oftransaction cards passing through the cleaning assembly and sorts eachtransaction card of the plurality of transaction cards based on whetherthe identifier scanner successfully read the machine-readable identifierof the transaction card; and a cleaned output magazine, coupled with thehousing, that receives and stores at least a subset of the plurality oftransaction cards received from the sorting assembly, wherein eachtransaction card of the at least the subset of the plurality oftransaction cards had the machine-readable identifier of the transactioncard successfully scanned by the identifier scanner.
 2. The transactioncard cleaning and sorting apparatus of claim 1, wherein each transactioncard of the plurality of transaction cards is a smartcard that comprisesa plurality of metallic contacts.
 3. The transaction card cleaning andsorting apparatus of claim 1, wherein each transaction card of theplurality of transaction cards is a magnetic stripe transaction cardthat comprises a magnetic stripe.
 4. The transaction card cleaning andsorting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identifier scanner attempts toread the machine-readable identifier of each transaction card of theplurality of transaction cards prior to the transaction card beingcleaned by the cleaning assembly.
 5. The transaction card cleaning andsorting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a roller assemblycomprising a plurality of rollers, wherein a first subset of theplurality of rollers contact a first side of each transaction card ofthe plurality of transaction cards passing through the cleaning assemblyand a second subset of the plurality of rollers contact a second side ofeach transaction card of the plurality of transaction cards passingthrough the cleaning assembly.
 6. The transaction card cleaning andsorting apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a drive system, whereinthe drive system causes at least some of the plurality of rollers toturn to advance the plurality of transaction cards through the cleaningassembly.
 7. The transaction card cleaning and sorting apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein the drive system further comprises a roller chain thatmechanically connects the at least some of the plurality of rollers witha drive assembly.
 8. The transaction card cleaning and sorting apparatusof claim 5, wherein the roller assembly further comprises a plurality oftensioning springs, wherein each tensioning spring of the plurality oftensioning springs has an adjustable tension controlling pressure of aroller of the plurality of rollers on the plurality of transaction cardsas each transaction card passes through the cleaning assembly.
 9. Thetransaction card cleaning and sorting apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecleaning assembly comprises a plurality of liquid sprays that sprayliquid on one or more brushes of the cleaning assembly.
 10. Thetransaction card cleaning and sorting apparatus of claim 1 wherein theidentifier scanner is an optical scanner that attempts to read a codefrom each transaction card of the plurality of transaction cardsselected from the group consisting of: an alphanumeric code; a barcode;a QR-code; and a color-coded symbol.
 11. The transaction card cleaningand sorting apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a computerizeduser interface device in communication with the identifier scanner,wherein the computerized user interface device outputs indications ofthe machine-readable identifiers successfully scanned by the identifierscanner.
 12. The transaction card cleaning and sorting apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a cleaned reject tray, coupled with thehousing, that receives and stores at least a second subset of theplurality of transaction cards received from the sorting assembly,wherein each transaction card of the at least the second subset of theplurality of transaction cards had its machine-readable identifierunsuccessfully scanned by the identifier scanner.
 13. A method forcleaning and sorting transaction cards, the method comprising: scanningan identifier present on the exterior of a transaction card, wherein theidentifier is a machine-readable code; dispensing the transaction cardfrom an intake magazine that houses a plurality of transaction cards;after dispensing the transaction card, moving the transaction card alonga cleaning assembly; cleaning the transaction card by the cleaningassembly; and after cleaning the transaction card, sorting thetransaction card into either a cleaned output magazine or a cleanedrejection tray based on whether the scanning of the identifier wassuccessfully performed prior to moving the transaction card along thecleaning assembly.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein each transactioncard of the plurality of transaction cards is a smartcard that comprisesa plurality of metallic contacts.
 15. The method of claim 13, whereineach transaction card of the plurality of transaction cards is amagnetic stripe transaction card that comprises a magnetic stripe. 16.The method of claim 13, wherein scanning the identifier present on thetransaction card occurs prior to cleaning the transaction card.
 17. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: altering a position of thecleaned output magazine based on the transaction card being successfullyscanned wherein a distance that the position of the cleaned outputmagazine is altered is based on the identifier of the transaction card.18. The method of claim 13, wherein cleaning the transaction cardcomprises brushing both sides of the transaction card by the cleaningassembly.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the transactioncard through the cleaning assembly is performed by a roller assemblythat is driven by a drive motor.
 20. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising: dispensing a second transaction card of the plurality oftransaction cards from the intake magazine in response to thetransaction card being sensed by a card sensor as having arrived at aparticular location.